Two minute/Four minute gear change

[Gleemanguy]

I was attempting to play a 2 minute record on my Edison Standard phonograph. The shaft with the knurled end would not push in to engage the larger gear on the mandrel shaft. I finally took the cover off the top end gears and discovered a plastic clip around the shaft on the outside of the casting. The clip prevented the shaft from being moved into the 2 minute position. I removed the clip and it works correctly. I am wondering if this was someone's attempt to prevent the gears from being moved out of the 4 minute position or was a clip ever offered as an accessory for these combination machines?

[briankeith]

PLASTIC ?????

[Gleemanguy]

Upon closer inspection the spacer appears to be made out of hard rubber. It is not magnetic. My guess is that it was made by a previous owner to keep someone from changing gears when a record was playing.

[Lucius1958]

Upon closer inspection the spacer appears to be made out of hard rubber. It is not magnetic. My guess is that it was made by a previous owner to keep someone from changing gears when a record was playing.

Hmm.... Childproofing? Or perhaps the PO only had 4 minute records, and wanted to prevent it from slipping out of gear?

[Jerry B.]

What model is the Standard? Some of the late Edisons were intended to be four minute only and there was a mechanism for holding the gearing in the four minute position. Jerry

[Gleemanguy]

Jer, It is a Model D. Here is a poor photo of the spacer. Focal distance on the camera is off, but is will afford some idea

[VintageTechnologies]

What model is the Standard? Some of the late Edisons were intended to be four minute only and there was a mechanism for holding the gearing in the four minute position. Jerry

Years ago I ran into that problem with a late Edison Home, before I knew they were deliberately "crippled" to play 4 minute only. The machine came with a Diamond "B" reproducer. Model "F", I believe? I could not seem to shift the mechanism from 4 minutes to 2 minutes, so I took it apart to find out why. I could see *why* it didn't work, but I thought the deficiency had been some kind of manufacturing oversight. I can't recall the exact specifics now, but using a drill press, I drilled one part and also fabricated a short pin to fit in the hole and as a result was able to shift gears. Later I discovered in Frow's book that I had altered a 4-minute-only machine. Oh well, in this case I prefer the flexibility over the originality. I installed an "O" reproducer and with a wood cygnet horn, the machine plays like a champ.